Today, the city of Godey has witnessed a moment that will be remembered for generations. With the laying of the foundation stone for the Urea Fertilizer Plant by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, a new chapter has begun—not only for Godey and the Somali Region, but for Ethiopia as a whole.
For decades, the fertile lands of Ethiopia have sustained our people, yet farmers have struggled with limited access to affordable fertilizer. Each year, the nation has spent vast sums of foreign currency to import what our soil so desperately needs. Today marks the turning of that page. The future fertilizer plant in Godey will harness the natural gas wealth of the Calub fields, transforming it into life-giving fertilizer that will feed our people, strengthen our economy, and ensure self-reliance.
This is more than a factory. It is a symbol. A symbol of Ethiopia’s determination to rise through its own resources, to convert waiting potential into tangible prosperity, and to ensure that development reaches even the farthest corners of our land. By choosing Godey, the government has sent a clear message: the Somali Region is not on the periphery of Ethiopia’s story, but at the very heart of its future.
The plant, to be developed in partnership with Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings, is projected to produce millions of tons annually. This means not only reducing Ethiopia’s dependence on foreign imports but also creating thousands of jobs for local communities. From construction workers to engineers, from transporters to farmers, the ripple effect will be immense. Families will find new opportunities, young people will see new horizons, and the soil of Ethiopia will yield more than ever before.
But beyond the statistics and the projections lies something even more powerful: hope. Hope that Godey, once known for its distance from the nation’s centers of power, now becomes a place where Ethiopia’s future is written. Hope that the Somali Region, too often overlooked in the past, is now recognized as a cornerstone of our national development.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s presence in Godey today is more than ceremonial. It is a declaration—that the dreams of the people of Godey are Ethiopia’s dreams, and that the development of Ethiopia cannot be complete without the progress of its Somali Region. It is a testament to a vision of inclusivity, prosperity, and unity.
As a proud resident of Godey, I see this day as one that will be remembered in history books. Generations from now, children will read about how the seeds of Ethiopia’s self-reliance were planted here, in the soils of Godey, on this very day.
The foundation stone laid today is not just concrete—it is a promise. A promise of growth, of dignity, of opportunity, and of a future where Ethiopia stands tall, nourished by the strength of its own people and its own resources.
Today, Godey has spoken. And Ethiopia has listened.
Mohamed omer
